The Mental Health Clinician attempts to provide interesting and useful insights in the field of neuropsychiatric pharmacy. Some common types of articles that might be appropriate for MHC include editorials, literature reviews, reviews of drugs/pharmacotherapy, innovative practice profiles, original research, case reports, and clinical pearls.
Given the lack of practice experience, many of these article types would not be applicable to students. However there are opportunities for students to contribute to the MHC. These opportunities are summarized briefly below.
Movie Reviews
Movies highlighting mental illness are a frequent hot topic among CPNP members. For movie reviews in the MHC, a student and a faculty member both watch a movie and write reviews that will be published next to each other. The reviews can discuss the disease states depicted, the accuracies and inaccuracies of the depiction, and the treatments that were utilized or overlooked. Before you start work, just coordinate with the Student Committee (email the office) to ensure that you are working on a movie that has yet to be reviewed.
Convert Your Poster to a Manuscript
The majority of posters presented at the CPNP Annual Meeting will be of interest to MHC readers.One of the most important steps will be ensuring that you have all of the information available to be able to shape a meaningful and substantive manuscript. Reach out to the MHC editorial board to locate an editor who can walk you through the process. Complete the open submission form (no manuscript required), provide your poster information, and select the "advice and guidance" option.
Mentored Literature Reviews
Several students have taken the initiative to contribute literature reviews for the MHC under the guidance of one of their faculty members (who often takes a secondary author credit). With a faculty member’s oversight, the editor’s helpful feedback, and the peer review process, a mentored literature review is an attainable challenge for some students.
If you are interested in writing a mentored literature review, and you are unable to locate faculty at your institution willing to work with you, then please reach out to the MHC editorial board and request to be put on the mentoring track. MHC will work to locate an experienced CPNP author who is willing and able to help you through the process. Complete the open submission form (no manuscript required), indicate any preferred title/description, and select the "advice and guidance" option.
Peer Review Apprenticeships
In 2013-2014, the MHC is piloting an apprenticeship program to help students experience the peer review process. The apprenticeships are true learn-by-doing opportunities. Students submit several peer reviews and work with a faculty mentor to improve their feedback on each subsequent review. The initial limited pilot program does not have an open application process but is expected to be successful and continue into the future at which time the application process will be advertised.
Other Ideas?
As an organization, we see immense potential in our student members. If you have an idea for how you can contribute, please reach out to the MHC editorial board before you begin work. A little extra direction early on can help you avoid missteps and find an exciting start in scholarly writing. Submit your suggestion online.
A Note Regarding Student Chapter Updates
CPNP is excited by the proactive involvement in mental health by the student chapters. However, general lists or articles containing updates on chapter activities are not appropriate for MHC publication. Bulleted list of updates will be sought by the Student Committee and the approved bullets will be included in the “Member News and Student Chapter Updates” update. These updates will appear in the CPNP news published at the same time as the MHC. This information is published without a byline, but it provides a more direct and concise means to update interested members.